Writing a Sense of Place

Felicity Castagna has published four novels for adults and young adults including her most recent book, Girls In Boys’ Cars ( 2021, Pan Macmillan) which received The Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for YA and is now being adapted for stage and screen. Her previous novel, No More Boats (2017, Giramondo) was a finalist in the 2018 Miles Franklin Literary Awards and is published internationally by Europa. Her young adult novel The Incredible Here and Now (2014, Giramondo) received The Prime Minister’s Award for Young Adult Literature as well as the IBBY Award and was a finalist in several other awards including the CBCA Book of the Year Award. She has worked with artists in many different fields to produce cross-artform collaborations for The Sydney Festival, The National Theatre of Parramatta, The Four Winds Festival, The Adelaide Festival and many other places as well as with The Finishing School Collective. Her creative non-fiction and critical responses to literature and art are published both here and internationally on platforms such as The Sydney Review of Books, Electric Literature, LitHub, The Griffith Review and ABC radio and television.

Castagna is a highly experienced teacher, speaker, writing mentor and teacher educator who has facilitated workshops everywhere from schools to community arts centres to correctional centres and has helped to establish, promote and run many writing and storytelling programs. She is currently a Lecturer in Creative Writing at The Writing and Society Research Centre, Western Sydney University.